Acetone decomposition reaction features

The slow combustion reactions of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and diethyl ketone possess most of the features of hydrocarbon oxidation, but their mechanisms are simpler since the confusing effects of olefin formation are unimportant. Specifically, the low temperature combustion of acetone is simpler than that of propane, and the intermediate responsible for degenerate chain branching is methyl hydroperoxide. The Arrhenius parameters for its unimolecular decomposition can be derived by the theory previously developed by Knox. Analytical studies of the slow combustion of methyl ethyl ketone and diethyl ketone show many similarities to that of acetone. The reactions of methyl radicals with oxygen are considered in relation to their thermochemistry. Competition between them provides a simple explanation of the negative temperature coefficient and of cool flames. 

The Bergmann variation of the Balz Schiemann reaction is a two-step process featuring copper- or copper halide-catalyzed decomposition of aqueous or acetone solutions of arenediazonium fluoroborates containing alkyl or halogen substituents [30] A recent modification is a one-step technique featuring simultaneous diazoti-zation and decomposition by addition of aqueous sodium nitrite at 25 °C to a mixture of fluorobonc acid, copper powder, and 2 isopropyl 6 methylaniline to give 2-isopropyl-6 methylfluorobenzene in 73% yield [37]... 

The body of literature on the photochemical decomposition of acetone is by now quite imposing, and excellent critiques of the %work are available. " This particular photolysis owes its importance to the fact that it has been one of the chief sources of quantitative data on the behavior of methyl radicals. It is therefore of some consequence to examine the principal features of the reaction. 

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